Shon
10-02-2004, 10:46 AM
A public meeting is set for Monday night for people who are concerned about the proposed ban on pit bulls in Council Bluffs.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Council Bluffs Senior Center, 714 S. Main St.
The City Council at its Oct. 11 meeting is expected to reintroduce an ordinance that would ban pit bulls from the city.
Earlier this year, the city's Health Department proposed an ordinance to ban the pit bull breeds, American Staffordshire Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, because of increasing bites on people. The ordinance was defeated at the Aug. 12 council meeting by a 2-2 tie vote.
Councilman Chad Primmer, who was not at the meeting because of a prior commitment, has indicated he would reintroduce the ordinance to ban the breed.
The meeting Monday evening will discuss why breed specific legislation doesn't work and what other cities are doing to find other solutions to dog bites, according to Charlotte Skokan, the meeting organizer.
"Communities all across the country are developing better ways to protect their citizens rather than banning breeds of dogs," she said. "Any dog can bite and become a nuisance when owned by an irresponsible owner. Not only will pit bulls or pit bull mixes be targeted if this ordinance is passed, essentially any dog resembling a pit bull will be suspect of being considered a pit-mix."
Glen Bui, legislative consultant with the American Canine Foundation, will address the meeting by teleconference. The ACF is a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 to stop irresponsible dog ownership and abuse to canines, as well as protecting dog owners' rights and the promotion of responsible ownership through education and legislation.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Council Bluffs Senior Center, 714 S. Main St.
The City Council at its Oct. 11 meeting is expected to reintroduce an ordinance that would ban pit bulls from the city.
Earlier this year, the city's Health Department proposed an ordinance to ban the pit bull breeds, American Staffordshire Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, because of increasing bites on people. The ordinance was defeated at the Aug. 12 council meeting by a 2-2 tie vote.
Councilman Chad Primmer, who was not at the meeting because of a prior commitment, has indicated he would reintroduce the ordinance to ban the breed.
The meeting Monday evening will discuss why breed specific legislation doesn't work and what other cities are doing to find other solutions to dog bites, according to Charlotte Skokan, the meeting organizer.
"Communities all across the country are developing better ways to protect their citizens rather than banning breeds of dogs," she said. "Any dog can bite and become a nuisance when owned by an irresponsible owner. Not only will pit bulls or pit bull mixes be targeted if this ordinance is passed, essentially any dog resembling a pit bull will be suspect of being considered a pit-mix."
Glen Bui, legislative consultant with the American Canine Foundation, will address the meeting by teleconference. The ACF is a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 to stop irresponsible dog ownership and abuse to canines, as well as protecting dog owners' rights and the promotion of responsible ownership through education and legislation.